“Time to go,” she whispered.
With a single nod, he shoved open the driver’s door, yanking his hand from her knee.
“That’s not what I meant.”
He stood just outside the Bronco and ducked enough to look inside at her. “You stay in the truck. Doubt I’m gonna be long.” He slammed the door shut.
Oh no. No. He was not going in there alone.
She scrambled to open her door and climb out of the raised four-by-four. She almost twisted her ankle in her heeled boots as she jumped down, but she caught her balance and hurried after him. Only almost face-planting once along the way.
She caught up to him at the porch. “Think about this, Rev.”
“Nothin’ to think about.”
She stood at the bottom of the steps and sighed, watching him take determined steps to the front door. She expected him to pound on it, but he didn’t, he just turned the knob and flung the door open, going inside.
“Shit,” she muttered and jogged up the steps, across the porch and into the house before he could slam the door in her face.
She caught the door and closed it behind her, then turned and froze.
Yes, she knew only too well how these types of movies ended.
With desperation, destruction and, ultimately, death.
He felt her presence at his back. He heard her shallow breathing. “Go back outside.”
“No, I’m not letting you do this by yourself.”
She was so fucking stubborn and always had to wedge herself where she didn’t belong.
“Don’t need you, Reilly.” Complete fucking lie.
While he’d never relied on anyone before, for some reason he was relieved she was there. Now was not the time to figure out why.
Matthew stepped out of the room to the right and into the hallway. He stopped when he saw them. “I thought I heard voices.” His lips moved like he was trying to force a smile but couldn’t quite manage it.
His uncle approached them and when he got within a few feet of Rev, he jutted out his hand. While his voice wasn’t cold, it wasn’t warm, either. “Welcome home, Brother Michael.”
He ignored the outstretched hand. “Name’s Rev. You don’t wanna call me that, call me Mickey. Haven’t been Michael since the day I walked out that door behind me.”
In reality, he didn’t walk out that door. He snuck out the back in the middle of the night with only the clothes on his back and a few things tossed into a brown paper bag.
Matthew dropped his hand and his brow furrowed. “Rev? Like reverend? Have you continued on the path of serving God?” The man actually sounded hopeful. Rev was about to smash the shit out of that.
“Fuck no. Short for revenge.”
A nervous laugh bubbled out of Reilly. She pressed a hand to the small of his back and stepped to his side. “Rev like rev an engine since he’s a mechanic.”
Matthew’s eyes fell on the woman by Rev’s side. “And this is?”
Reilly chewed on her bottom lip for the second she glanced up at Rev, then extended her hand to his uncle. “I’m Reilly—“
Rev dropped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his side, tearing their clasped hands free. “My wife.”
Matthew’s eyes went wide. “Oh, your parents will be pleased to hear you’ve settled down.” Rev’s jaw shifted as his uncle’s eyes dropped to Reilly’s full hips. “Any little ones yet?”
Motherfucker.
“I keep her busy. Four, so far.” He dropped his arm from her shoulders and patted her ass. “She’s a good little breeder.” Reilly choked and he lifted his hand from her ass to pat her on the back. “You good, babe?”
Reilly nodded with one hand on her throat, still unable to talk. A fucking miracle in itself.
“And you didn’t bring them along?” Matthew asked, surprised. “I’m sure your parents would appreciate seeing their grandchildren.”
“Wouldn’t bring my babies around here. They’re safer at home.” Rev lifted one eyebrow. He didn’t give a fuck if his uncle picked up on his meaning or not. In fact, he hoped he did.
“Well… Your mother’s in the kitchen and your father has been in the sitting room ever since he’s been confined to a hospital bed. Who would you like to visit first, Broth… Michael?”
Neither.
“Mickey or Rev,” Rev reminded him.
Matthew tipped his head. “Yes… well. You’ll always be Michael to me. It’s a good strong name.”
Rev leaned in closer and lowered his voice. “Don’t give a fuck what you think about that name. It’s no longer mine.”
Matthew went pale and he cleared his throat. “So, um…”
Rev ignored him and glanced around. Nothing had changed. Not one thing since the day he left. A large wooden cross was the only decoration that hung in the narrow hallway that led to the back of the house.
He curled his hand around Reilly’s hip, gave it a little squeeze and guided her past his uncle and down the hallway that ran along the stairway to the second floor.